Brad2912

NFI what you are talking about. You need to get your hearing tested if you consider that ear piercing or overly loud

Also for those riding DCR, single rider queue is not in use, despite the signs still being up, the line is only for fast pass

I don’t believe there is any less animatronics than there used to be with the exception of the final room

The timing isn’t great, and the quality of animation isn’t either... one of those things that may have seemed a good concept in development but it we executed poorly

1-10 years isn’t short term.. that’s short, medium and long all in one. short term would be 1-3, medium term 4-6, long term beyond 7 years. With the world the way it is currently there is little point even Considering long term at the moment, or even medium. You can only focus on now. Parks can’t even plan for the next 12 months with any surety so no big decisions will he made with capex at all. i don’t think anymore money is going to go into rehashing SDSC any further. Arkham will no doubt be replaced, but unlikely in the next 3 years now. tbh, short term (1-3 years) given the situation, I’d be happy with a theme makeover/refresh for WWF, a new show to replace HSD and a new kids ride to Replace 1 or 2 of the terribly aged current offerings.

There has been near on torrential rain all night on the GC with many local roads flooded. the WnW carpark usually goes underwater in heavy rain, so it’s not surprising at all.

The giga-splash is a cool concept, especially the ride vehicle and vertical lift. i think the height makes it the wrong option for DW, they need a family friendly water ride. The hot racer duelling Coaster, especially the multi-launch variety would make a good ride at MW teamed to flash/reverse flash with a red and a yellow train duelling at speed around the track

Boo! That really sucks!

Class action against Gold Coast theme park operator Ardent Leisure looms as new legal battle for Dreamworld operator following charges Ardent Leisure’s legal problems continue to mount following charges laid on Tuesday with news a class action has the numbers to proceed. A CLASS action on behalf of stung Ardent Leisure shareholders alleging tens of millions in losses looms as a bigger financial headache for the Dreamworld theme park operator than charges laid on Tuesday after 2016’s four deaths on a ride malfunction. Ardent, opening Dreamworld along with WhiteWater World in time for September school holidays, is burning through $5-$10 million each month its parks are closed. Work Health and Safety prosecutors on Tuesday issued three negligence charges against Ardent over the 2016 deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozi Araghi and Cindy Low with a maximum penalty of $4.5 million. Any fine imposed by the court is likely to be covered by Ardent’s insurance policies. Parker Simmonds Solicitors commercial litigation director Bruce Simmonds said civil claims could end up in the hundreds of thousands but in most cases were covered by insurers. But as a result insurance premiums would increase. IBISWorld senior industry analyst Liam Harrison said Ardent was already facing huge challenges prior to the charges. “They’re hurting so much more from coronavirus. This legal battle might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back but could also be another thing to add to the pile of pain to the business for six to 12 months.” EL & C Baillieu analyst Nick Caley said Ardent was in a sound financial position because of its sale last month of a 24.2 per cent stake in its US Main Event chain of bowling and family entertainment arcades to private equity’s RedBird Capital Partners for $117m. “Financially it (the charges) is not an issue. They just sold 25 per cent of their US business. That has de-risked their financial position completely depending on how this virus goes,” Mr Caley said. “It is a pretty small part of the company now. Main Event is the dominant asset now. They still have working capital. In the overall scheme of things it is a small amount for Ardent.” Another financial problem is a class action by Piper Alderman for Ardent shareholders. The law firm alleges Ardent misled investors about safety and corporate governance in place at Dreamworld in years before the 2016 fatalities, causing Ardent’s shares to trade at an artificially inflated price. Special counsel Lachlan Lamont said the claim had reached the number litigation funders need to proceed. “A significant group of shareholders have signed up to the class action representing tens of millions of investment in the company,” he said. “Shareholders paid too much for a share in a company at risk of a massive disaster occurring and that did in fact occur.” Mr Lamont said 13,000 Ardent shareholders in August, 2016, were eligible to be part of the class action, for people who bought shares between June 17, 2014 and October 25, 2016. He said Piper Alderman had a July 30 hearing in Federal Court in Brisbane, seeking to access Ardent’s insurance policies and asking for policy particulars including director and officer insurance policies. “If they say they have no money but an insurance policy then we press on.” https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/class-action-against-gold-coast-theme-park-operator-ardent-leisure-looms-as-new-legal-battle-for-dreamworld-operator-following-charges/news-story/24acc9f45e33b7b5708e449e3f1c98ce

So the charges are all against the business, no individuals will face changes. 3 charges, with a total maximum fine of $4.5m.

I’m not sure on the first point about legalities around not being able to pay the fine, however I completely agree that the federal government handout that was already pulled would now have zero chance of being reintroduced or considered. The government cannot, and won’t, be seen to be paying the financial penalties of a business who failed their own rules & regulations resulting in deaths.

Office of Workplace Health and Safety set to charge Ardent Leisure over 2016 tragedy Four years after four people were killed at Dreamworld in the Thunder River Rapids ride tragedy, today the theme park’s parent company Ardent Leisure is expected to be charged. Dreamworld’s parent company Ardent Leisure is expected to be charged today over the 2016 Thunder River Rapids tragedy that killed four people. It is reported that the independent prosecutor appointed by the Office of Workplace Health and Safety after this year’s coronial inquest has concluded his assessment. Families of the victims will this morning be informed of the outcome and charges are expected to be laid later today, Today Show reports. Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozi Araghi and Cindy Low died on the Thunder River Rapids ride. A six-week inquest which wrapped up in December 2018 heard testimony from dozens of witnesses ranging from emergency services personnel to Dreamworld staff, but no family members took the witness stand. Findings were handed in February this year with Dreamworld’s parent company Ardent Leisure referred to the Office of Industrial Relations. Queensland Coroner James McDougall handed down a scathing 300-page findings into the tragedy where he labelled Dreamworld’s actions a ‘total failure’ and the hazards on the Thunder River Rapids ride posed ‘significant risk’ to patrons. He said there had been a “systemic failure by Dreamworld to ensure all aspects of safety” and referred Ardent Leisure Limited to the Office of Industrial Relations (OIR). https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/queensland/office-of-workplace-health-and-safety-to-charge-ardent-leisure-over-2016-tragedy/news-story/2541fe255f3e3d2f07db9ecbac315f79 ———————————————— whilst obviously speculation, the news said something in the vicinity of a $3m fine for the business and jail time for some individuals was likely

If they are selling it, it’s likely going to be to a property developer with plans to put 2000 houses on the land...

The coreflute over the physical signage is very poor, there is no denying that at all.

Haven’t seen said photos, so obviously not taking those into account. However you must have the VTP app on your phone to enter, and that clear as day shows the closures.

All of which were known about however. what’s happening later isnt disappointing a visitor today Unplanned, happens multiple times everyday in any park around the world. i stand by the fact that anyone attending could not possibly be oblivious to what is going on the world and that what had happened has changed operations. All VTP can do is communicate what is and isn’t operational - and they’ve done that. People can make up their own minds if they wish to spend their money attending or not.

Severely disappoint? Outside of GL being down, and no parade as that is banned due to covid, in what way are people being let down vs attending last July holidays? There was no government restriction on what jobs could be done, but I am assuming financial wise it was more viable to have them at home? The company was bleeding money, so they would have looked to save absolutely whatever they could during closure

SE and WWF are always down at this time of the year, so really the only major that has been added to the maintenance list is GL, and last I know that was in the middle of a repaint prior to covid. I don’t think there is much for they could have done other than keep their maintenance crews working as normal despite closure which they clearly weren’t able to do financially

Yes, but thats no different to any other trading time, it’s not unique to this post-Covid opening. I don’t believe any of the MW current closures are due to trying to Save money. It’s already been stayed that apart from a skeleton crew in now and again the maintenance were not working during the covid closures until about 4 weeks ago when they were back on deck for checks and maintenance

When the coast is full of nsw tourists why wouldn’t you try and attract them? They need to maximise revenue at the moment. the only kids rides closer are Yosemite’s Railway & Pounce N Bounce - so what were the kids complaining about? Queues? They’d be longer in a regular holiday period. the ride closures are on the maintenance Page, everyone is aware of the COVID related changes, so anyone disappointed with what they get only has themselves to blame...

That’s what I was thinking

Well I would say no, because if they were bankrupt, Ardent Leisure would legally have to disclose that as it’s a publicly listed company

The Fed Govt pulling the emergency funding deal at the last minute was likely the final nail in the coffin. the second wave that now seems unavoidable (thanks Vic), will just seal that coffin in cement. and if you are relying on the govt to stay afloat, are you really worthy of the money? Same Argument was raised regarding Virgin when there was talk of a state govt bail out, and not many were supportive of the govt paying to prop up a business who thru its own inadequacies being debt ridden and unprofitable

I reckon if you skip forward 6 months it will still be in the exact same place, unless it’s been on-sold to another park..